Bowling ball cleaner



Sept. 17, 1963 R. R. GALLANT BOWLING BALL CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1962 FIG. I

FIG. 2

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ATTORNEYS Sept. 17, 1963 R. R. GALLANT BOWLING BALL CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1962 United States Patent 3,193,677 BGWLING BALL CLEANER Reginald R. Gallant, Eristoi, Conn, assignor to (Ionnccb lent Technical tierporation, Hartford, onn., a corporation of Connecticut lFiied Sept. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 225,575 1% Ciairns. (Cl. 15-21) This invention relates to bowling ball cleaners, and deals more particularly with cleaners of the type employing brushes moved over the outer surface of the ball.

The general object of this invention is to provide a brush type bowling ball cleaner adapted to uniformly clean the entire outer surface of the ball.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bowling ball cleaner which produces an improved cleaning action while nevertheless being of a simpler, more economical and more rugged construction than prior cleaners of the same general type.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bowling ball cleaner of the above character wherein the mechanical parts are operated at such loads and speeds as to assure long life, high reliability, and a minimum of maintenance.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and from the drawings forming a part hereof.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, looking toward the front and top, of a bowling ball cleaner embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, taken looking into the rear of the bowling ball cleaner shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the drive and cleaning mechanism of the bowling ball cleaner, this view being taken looking in the same direction as in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the drive and cleaning mechanism shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the drive and cleaning mechanism shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4 and FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 4. 7

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a bowling ball cleaner embodying the present invention is illustrated as being contained in a generally rectangular cabinet ill including in the top portion thereof a door 12 which is hinged to the body of the cabinet about its rear edge for opening and closing movements relative to a recessed well defined by a basin-like member 14. In FIG. 1 the door 12 is shown in its open position while in FIG. 2 it is shown in its closed position. The cleaner is preferably adapted for coin operation, and for this purpose the cabinet is provided with a coin receiving slot 16 and with a coin operated mechanism, indicated generally at 18, for controlling the operation and timing of the drive and cleaning mechanism. The coin operated mechanism is, however, not important to the present invention and need not be further described, various suitable mechanisms being well known in the art.

The actual ball cleaning and drive mechanism is located within the cabinet 10, and all the parts thereof are supported by a single cross beam 20 attached at its opposite ends to the sides of the cabinet as shown in FIG. 2. included in the cleaning mechanism is an annular basket or carrier 22 having an open upper end in registry with a circular opening 24 in the basin member 14 and adapted to receive a ball placed therein through said latter opening. The relative sizes and locations of the basin member 14, the basket 22 and of the ball supporting means in the basket, as hereinafter described, are such that the top of a standard sized ball 26 will project some distance above the bottom surface of the basin member so as to be easily grasped by a user when removing the same from the cleaner. Associated with the basket 22 is a drive motor 28 mounted on the beam 29 with its out put shaft in a vertical position.

Referring now to FIGS. 3' to 8 for a more detailed description of the cleaning mechanism, the ball 26 when placed in the basket 22 is vertically supported by a roller 3t which engages the bottom portion of the ball. The roller St) is supported for rotation about a horizontal axis by a shaft 32 which is journaled on opposite sides of the roller in two side pieces 34, 34 of a brush carrier assembly hereinafter described in more detail. The roller 30 is preferably made of rubber or otherwise provided with an outer circumferential surface which provides a high coeificient friction between the roller and the ball so that rotation of the roller about its horizontal axis will be imparted to the ball to also rotate the latter about a horizontal axis.

The roller 39 is pinned or otherwise secured to the shaft 32 so as to cause these two members to rotate in unison. On both of its ends the shaft 32 extends through the associated side pieces 34, 34 and has mounted thereon wheels 35 and 38 respectively. One wheel, such as the wheel 36, is fused to the shaft 32 so as to rotate therewith while the other Wheel, such as the wheel 33, is mounted loosely on the shaft so as to be capable of rotating independently thereof. 7

The basket or carrier 22, as shown best in FIG. 6, includes an upper ball receiving or basket portion 40, which in the present instance is in the shape of a hollow truncated cone, and a lower hollow stem portion &2 extending downwardly from the basket portion in coaxial relation with the central axis thereof. The basket portion 49 serves primarily as a carrier for a first set of brushes which are attached to the upper inside surface of the basket and arranged at circurnaxially spaced locations about the central basket axis. In the present instance this set of brushes includes six pairs of brushes 44, 44 arranged at approximately 60 intervals circumaxially about the vertical basket axis. Each brush 44 is generally rectangular in shape and has the bristles thereof extending inwardly toward the central axis of the basket, the long axis of each brush being generally parallel with the vertical basket axis and all the brushes being of such a size and shape as to simultaneously engage the side of a ball 26 placed in the basket. The brushes may be attached to the basket by any suitable means. The basket serves primarily as a carrier for the brushes and therefore may take other various convenient shapes different from the particular shape illustrated.

The basket 22 is vertically supported for rotation about its vertical central axis by two bearings 46, 46 attached to the beam 2t and r-otatably engaging the stem portion 426f the basket. The basket is in turn driven in rotation about such vertical axis by the motor 28 through a speed reduction drive. In the present instance this speed reduction device comprises an intermediate shaft 50 supported for rotation about a vertical axis by a suitable bearing 52 attached to the beam 2i and which intermediate shaft has fixed thereto a small pulley 54 and a relatively larger pulley 56. The larger pulley 56 is driven by a belt 58 in cooperation with a small drive pulley 68 on the motor 28, and the basket is in turn driven by a second belt 61 trained about the small pulley 54 and the lower end of the basket portion 40 of the basket, said lower end being provided with a circumferential groove 62 for receiving the belt 61. The drive motor 28 operates continuously throughout the cleaning operation performed on a given ball and serves to rotate the basket 22 and the associated set of brushes 44, 44 continuously in one direction about the vertical basket axis.

Also included in the cleaning mechanism is a second set of brushes also arranged in circumaxially spaced re lation about the central axis of the basket and adapted to engage the side of a ball placed therein. In the present instance, this set of brushes comprise sixteen brushes 63, 63 attached to two curved mounting plates 64, 64 located at diametrically opposite positions relative to the vertical basket axis, the brushes being arranged in pairs with four pairs of brushes being car ried by each mounting plate as shown. The mounting plates comprise part of the brush carrier assembly referred to above. Also included in the brush carrier assembly is a base member 65 having two upwardly diverging and outwardly inclined arms 66, 66 each of which arms has hinged thereto for movement about a horizontal axis a respective one of the brush mounting plates 64, 64 to permit movement of the brushes 63, 63 toward and away from .a ball placed in the basket. Between each brush mounting plate 64 and the associated base arm 66 is a helical tension spring 68 which urges the mounting plate toward the central axis of the basket. When a ball is placed in the basket the brushes 62, 62 are moved away from their inwardly limited positions and are held against the surface of the ball by the force of the springs 68, 68. Also included in the brush carrier are the hereinbefore mentioned side pieces 34, 34 which are fixed to flanges 70, '70 bent upwardly from the base member arms 66, 66.

The brush carrier assembly is vertically supported by the two wheels 36 and 38 which ride on an annular land 72 provided in the bottom of the basket, and is supported for rotation about the central vertical axis of the basket by a shaft 74 fixed to the base member 65 and extending loosely through the bore in the stem portion 42 of the basket. The Wheels 36 and 38 are made of nylon or other material providing such a coetficient of friction between the wheels and the land 72 that the wheels, and especially the wheel 36, are rotated about a horizontal axis as a result of relative rotation between the basket and the brush carrier. Since the wheel 36 is fixed to the shaft 34 this rotation of the wheel 36 also results in rotation of the roller 30 and of the ball supported thereon.

The brush carrier assembly, and the brushes 63, 63 attached thereto, is driven in an oscillating motion about the vertical basket axis. Various different means may be provided for accomplishing this oscillating motion, but in the present case the illustrated means includes an arm 76 fixed to the lower end of the brush carrier shaft 74 and having on its outer end a cam follower or roller 78 which rides against the periphery of a cam 88. The latter cam is in turn fixed to a relatively large pulley 82 fixed to a shaft 84 supported from the beam by suitable bearings for rotation about a Vertical axis. This large pulley 82 is in turn driven by a belt 86 from a relatively smaller pulley 88 fixed to the lower end of the basket stem portion 42. Thus, the rotating movement of the basket is converted through the cam 80, the follower 78 and the associated mechanism into an oscillating movement of the brush carrier. Also, the pulleys 82 and 88 serve as a speed reduction device so that the cam 80 is rotated at a speed considerably slower than the basket and with the result that the brushes 63, 63 are oscillated at a frequency less than that of the rotation of the basket. It should, at this point be further noted that as the first set of brushes 44, 44 rotate in their one direction about the vertical basket axis they also rotate the ball 26 about the same axis and through the ball also tend to rotate the second set of brushes 63, 63 and the associated carrier assembly in the same direction. The force thus exerted on the brush carrier by the ball serves to hold the cam follower 78 against the cam 80. Throughout the rise portion of the cam movement the cam moves the cam follower 78 in one direction in opposition to this force, and the same force moves the follower in the opposite direction throughout the fall portion of the cam motion.

Having thus described the construction of the ball cleaner its operation may be briefly stated as follows: A person desiring to use the cleaner raises the door 12 of the cabinet 10 to expose the well defined by the basin member 14, inserts the ball to be cleaned through the opening 24 in the basin member so that the bottom portion of the ball rests within the basket 22, and thereafter closes the door 12. A coin is now inserted through the coin slot 16 which actuates the coin control mechanism 18 to start the motor 28. Operation of the latter motor rotates the basket 22 at a reduced speed through the belts 58 and 61 and the pulleys 54 and 56 fixed to the intermediate shaft 58. This rotation of the basket 22 in turn rotates the first set of brushes 44, 44 about a vertical axis, these brushes bearing against the side of the ball 26 and therefore imposing a force on the ball tending to rotate the same about the latter vertical axis at a speed equal to that of the basket. Rotation of the basket also causes rotation of the small pulley 88 attached to the lower end of the basket stem 42 and through the associated belt 86 rotates the larger pulley 82 and the attached cam at a frequency reduced from that of the basket 22. Cooperating with the cam 80 is the cam follower 78 and arm 76 which act to oscillate the shaft 74 about its vertical axis. This latter oscillation is in turn imparted to the brush carrier attached to the upper end of the shaft 74 to in turn oscillate the second set of brushes 63, 63 about the vertical basket axis, the latter brushes being held against the side of the ball 26 by the spring force of the springs 68, 68. The brushes 63, 63 therefore throughout a portion of each cycle of oscillation are moved in the same direction as the first brushes 44, 44 and throughout the remainder of each cycle of oscillation are moved in a direction opposite to the first brushes 44, 44. The brushes 63, 63 move at a speed slower than the brushes 44, 44 and therefore serve as a means for imparting a retarding force on the ball acting in opposition to the forces imposed thereon by the brushes 44 to prevent the ball from rotating in unison with the basket 22. The net result is that the brushes of both sets move relative to the ball 26 to exert a brushing or scrubbing action on the outer ball surface. Also, as the basket 22 rotates relative to the carrier for the second set of brushes the wheel 36 rolls over the land 72 and in turn causes rotation of the shaft 32 and of the roller 30 attached thereto, and this rotation of the roller in turn rotates the ball 26 about a horizontal axis with the result that a new portion of the ball surface is continuously presented to the brushes 44, 44 and 63, 63. The combined effect of the roller 30 and of the brushes 44, 44 and 63, 63 on the motion of the ball is such that the ball is moved in a continuous tumbling motion whereby it is assured that the entire outer surface is presented to the brushes to provide for a uniform cleaning thereof. The coin operated mechanism 18 holds the motor 28 operated for a sutficient length of time to assure a complete cleaning of the ball and after the lapse of this time de-energizes the motor to stop the rotation of the basket. At this time the user opens the door 12 and removes the cleaned ball.

The invention claimed is:

l. A bowling ball cleaning mechanism comprising a set of brushes arranged circumaxially about a vertical axis passing through a ball placed in said mechanism and adapted to engage the side of said ball, means for rotating said brushes about said vertical axis with the result that said brushes tend to impart their rotation to said ball, means for imposing a retarding force on said ball acting in opposition to the force imposed thereon by said brushes for causing the ball to rotate about said vertical axis at a speed slower than said brushes, and means for simul taneously rotating said ball about a horizontal axis.

2. A bowling ball cleaning mechanism as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said means for imposing a retarding force comprising at least one other brush adapted to engage the side of said ball.

3. A bowling ball cleaning mechanism as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said means for imposing a retarding force comprising a second set of brushes arranged circumaxially about said vertical axis, and means for oscillating said second set of brushes about said vertical axis.

4. A bowling ball cleaning mechanism as defined in claim 3 further characterized by means for driving said oscillating means in timed relation to the speed of rotation of said first set of brushes and whereby said second set of brushes is oscillated at a frequency less than that of the rotation of said first set of brushes.

5. A bowling ball cleaner comprising a roller rotatable about a horizontal axis and adapted to engage and support the bottom of a bowling ball placed thereon, means for rotating said roller about said horizontal axis so as to in turn rotate said ball about a horizontal axis, a first set of brushes arranged circumaxially about a vertical axis passing through a ball placed on said roller and adapted to engage the side of such a ball, a second set of brushes arranged circumaxially about said vertical axis and also adapted to engage the side of said latter ball, means for rotating said first set of brushes continuously in one direction about said vertical axis, and means for oscillating said second set of brushes about said vertical axis.

6. A bowling ball cleaner as defined in claim 5 further characterized by a carrier for said first set of brushes which carrier rotates in unison therewith, and said means for rotating said roller about said horizontal axis including a wheel angularly fixed relative to said roller and engageable with said carrier for rotation thereby.

7. A bowling ball cleaner comprising a first brush carrier supported for rotation about a vertical axis and adapted to receive and surround the side of a ball placed therein, a plurality :of brushes attached to said brush carrier at circurnaxially spaced locations and adapted to engage the side of said latter ball, a second brush carrier located within said first carrier, a plurality of brushes attached to said second brush carrier at circumaxia'lly spaced locations and adapted to engage the side of said ball, a roller supported on said second brush carrier for rotation about a horizontal axis and located below said brushes for engaging and vertically supporting said latter ball, a wheel angularly fixed relative to said roller and engageable with said first brush carrier for rotation thereby as a result of relative rotation between said first and second brush carriers, and means for rotating said first brush carrier in one direction about said vertical axis.

8. A bowling ball cleaner as defined in claim 7 further characterized by means for oscillating said second brush carrier about 'said vertical axis.

9. A bowling ball cleaner 'as defined in claim 7 further characterized by a cam, drive means between said cam and said first brush carrier for rotating said cam in response to rotation of said first brush carrier, and means including a fol-lower attached to said second brush carrier and engageable with said cam for oscillating said second brush carrier about said vertical axis.

10. A bowling ball cleaner as defined in claim 9 further characterized by said drive means between said first brush carrier and said cam being such that said cam is rotated at a frequency less than that of said first brush carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 859,842 Robinson July 9, 1907 2,339,573 Knipp Jan. 18, 1944 2,420,988 Tholen May 20, 1947 

1. A BOWLING BALL CLEANING MECHANISM COMPRISING A SET OF BRUSHES ARRANGED CIRCUMAXIALLY ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS PASSING THROUGH A BALL PLACED IN SAID MECHANISM AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE SIDE OF SAID BALL, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID BRUSHES ABOUT SAID VERTICAL AXIS WITH THE RESULT THAT SAID BRUSHES TEND TO IMPART THEIR ROTATION TO SAID BALL, MEANS FOR IMPOSING A RETARDING FORCE ON SAID BALL ACTING IN OPPOSITION TO THE FORCE IMPOSED THEREON BY SAID BRUSHES FOR CAUSING THE BALL TO ROTATE ABOUT SAID VERTICAL AXIS AT A SPEED SLOWER THAN SAID BRUSHES, AND MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY ROTATING SAID BALL ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS. 